Runner for wheelbarrows.



M. V. CHRISTENSEN.

RUNNER FOR WHEELBARROWS. APPLICATION FILED MAYSI, 19H.

h mfi bm Patented June 25,1918. 7

WITNESSES INVENTOR %e7m/ if 0/21: Ste/115e,.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1918.

Application filed May 31, 1917. Serial No. 172,068.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERTON V. CHRISTEN- SEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hendricks, in the county of Lincoln and State of Minnesota, have" invented certain new and useful Improvements" in Runners for Wheelbarrows, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to an improvementin a runner for wheelbarrows, and more particularly to a structure of this character intended to be fitted and used in con unction with a wheelbarrow of standard form and construction, upon removal of the wheel, to adapt the barrow for use upon snow or ice, in mud, or in other connections where the wheel cannot be efliciently used.

An object of my invention is to provide a structure of the character described which can be fitted in place at the forward end of the handles, when the wheel has been re moved, and whichwill present a broad and reasonably long sliding or runner face to thus present a broad bearing surface which will pack down andnnake its own path when used in snow, will prevent the barrow becomin mired or stuck when used upon soft ground or in the mud, and will act equally efficiently in other connections.

A further object resides in providing means by which the runner is held properly centered for equal distribution of the load, and braces by which the runner is retained in an upright relation and also against side twisting.

With the above and other objects in view which will be in part described and in part understood from the specification, drawings, and claim, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the device of my invention as it would be mounted for use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the runner member proper;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the member shown in Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4; is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1. i

The runner member 1, which is made of wood or other suitable material, is rounded ofl" at the lower forward end and is preferably provided with a shoe 2, which is socured in placeby use of screws 3, or other suitable fastenings, and it is also preferable that the rear lower corner be rounded as shown at l.

weight upon the broad bearing face of the straight portion of the runner, an opening 5 is provided'transversely through the runner, and a bushing 6 is mounted in this opening. A shaft or bolt 7, which might be the axle 0r axle bolt of the wheelbarrow, is fitted through the bore of the bushing 6 and is then properly mounted in conjunction with the handles 8 of the barrow, and to hold the runner properly centered, pins 9 and 10 are passed through the shaft or bolt 7 on opposite sides of the runner, washers 11 and 12 being provided between these pins 9 and 10 and the sides of the runners to protect the same against wear.

Braces 18 and 14 are provided with bearings 15 and 16 to loosely receive the shaft or bolt 7, and these braces are carried by the runner 1 on opposite sides so that the bearings 15 and 16 are lined up with the bore of the bushing 6. As the-bearings 15 and 16 of the braces 13 and 14 are spaced somewhat from the runner proper, the braces will naturally act to hold the runner against side twisting or tilting. In the use of the de- V108, the wheel will be removed from the position in which it is fitted and mounted in conjunction with the handles Sand the shaft or bolt 7, having the parts mounted thereon as shown in Fig. 4, is fitted and secured in At a point to properly distribute the place in lieu of the wheel, in which fitted 1 relation the straight bearing portion of the runner is placed below the mounting of the shaft 7 through runner and thus the weight of the load carried by the barrow is distributed over this entire bearing surface. When it is desired to use the wheel, the runner may be removed and the wheel refitted in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a runner for wheelbarrows which is of such construction that it can be fitted and used in conjunction with wheelbarrows already in use or which might be constructed in conjunction with the barrow as the same is manufactured. and while I have herein shown and described only certain specific forms and mounting of the several parts, it will be understood that variations might be resorted to, and hence ll do not wish to be limited to any points except such as may be set forth in the claim.

runner member proper, said runner member provided with an opening formed in the top 5 thereof,a shaft extending through said opening, a sleeve mounted within said opening and surrounding said shaft, cotter pins passing through said shaft and fitting upon opposite sides of said sleeve for holding said shaft against longitudinal movement through said runner member proper, a brace mounted upon each side of said runner member, each brace comprising a member formed fr om sheet metal havlng a rolled upper end snugly fitting around said shaft,

co i s of this patent maybe obtained for the lower end of said brace being twisted and having its lower edge extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the brace and bearing fiat against sides of sa-id'runner for thoroughly bracing the same and preventing lateral shifting movement of said runner upon said shaft, said braces engaging said runner member substantially below said opening.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MERTON V CHRISTENSEN. Witnesses:

J. A. Roenss, SAM BOGEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

